Office of the Historian

893.01/4–1549: Telegram

The Minister-Counselor of Embassy in China (Clark) to the Secretary of State

Canton, April 15, 1949—9 a. m.
[Received April 15—1:12 a. m.]

Cantel 214. Chen Tai-chu, director American Section Foreign Office, but long associated Soviet affairs, expressed opinion that action Vishinsky8 in leaving sickbed to permit Chinese Ambassador, Moscow, pay farewell call before assuming functions Minister Foreign Affairs, was to give public support to Nationalist Government as opposed Communist. He feels likewise that principal reasons Soviet Ambassador China and entire staff came Canton when Government moved was to support Nationalist Government. He is convinced Soviets fear emergence nationalism among Chinese Communists with possible resulting independence Soviet direction. For same reasons he believes Soviets would be reluctant see extension Communist domination over all China, at least at this stage.

Sent Department; repeated Nanking 189, Shanghai 139.

Clark
  1. A. Ya. Vyshinsky, Soviet Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs.↩